Confirmed Lineup: Changes made to starting pack
One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has reshuffled his starting forward pack for the club’s historic NRL season-launching clash against the Canberra Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (1.00pm kick-off NZT).
It sees three changes with captain Mitchell Barnett starting at loose forward, Jackson Ford coming off the interchange to start in the front row and Erin Clark going to the interchange.
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is confirmed as 18th man with Te Maire Martin 19th man.
Omitted from the 22 were hooker Sam Healey, prop Bunty Afoa and winger Edward Kosi.
Co-captain James Fisher-Harris is the only player named to make his One New Zealand Warriors debut in the historic clash.
Bringing four straight premiership wins with Penrith to his new home, the Kiwi captain becomes Warrior #290 as the club begins its 31st season with its first premiership match played outside New Zealand or Australia.
Allegiant Stadium will be the 51st venue for a premiership match in the Warriors’ history.
Match: Raiders v Warriors
Round 1 -
home Team
Raiders
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
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Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Warriors is number 2 Taine Tuaupiki
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Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
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Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
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Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey HorsburghProp for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
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Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Warriors is number 15 Jackson Ford
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell
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2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
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Lock for Raiders is number 16 Josh PapaliiLock for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett
Interchange
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Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
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Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen PattieInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
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Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi SasagiInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
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Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata MariotaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka Halasima
Reserves
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Replacement for Raiders is number 22 Jed StuartReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
While Fisher-Harris makes his club debut fellow offseason signing Erin Clark will line up for the club 2914 days since his NRL debut and only other previous appearance for the One New Zealand Warriors on March 10, 2017.
In the backline, head coach Andrew Webster has opted for Taine Tuaupiki to replace the injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the right wing while Chanel Harris-Tavita claims the #6 jersey.
Webster has named four forwards on the bench with Dylan Walker providing utility value along with Clark and exciting young back rowers Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima.
The only two players not considered were winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wrist) and centre Rocco Berry (shoulder).
While Clark moves within four games of playing his 100th career match, Pompey will mark his 95th appearance.
This will be the 53rd match between the two clubs with Canberra holding a slight edge 27-25 overall; the Warriors have won five of the last eight matches. They will now have the distinction of playing in both the northernmost and southernmost venues in the competition’s history (Las Vegas and Dunedin in 2017).
